Danica Patrick, who drives the No. 10 Chevrolet, is in her second full-time season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and her second with Stewart-Haas Racing and crew chief Tony Gibson. Patrick, who spent seven years driving open-wheel cars in the IndyCar Series (2005-11), has two career top-10 finishes and one career pole in Sprint Cup.

Danica Patrick scored her fifth top-20 finish of the season at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.

WHERE SHE STARTED: Qualified 11th, advancing to the final round of knockout qualification.

WHERE SHE FINISHED: She finished 18th after dropping as low as 30th to record her best performance at a Sprint Cup road course, bettering a 29th-place finish last year at Sonoma and a 20th-place result at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

WHAT SHE SAID: "I think we kind of salvaged something there," Patrick said. "It would be good for a couple laps and then would just go away. We got lucky getting the Lucky Dog and then just pitted a couple of times for fresh tires and fuel and wound up 18th. It's not the best day, but I think we keep improving."

HOW IT UNFOLDED: The No. 10 Chevrolet dropped back early in the race as tires began losing grip. "I don't think we have a good long-distance car," Patrick radioed Gibson. "It drives well for a couple laps, but it just doesn't hold well."

Patrick fell a lap down as the result of the tire issues and some minor fender damage. When caution flew on lap 75 after Matt Kenseth crashed, Patrick was the first car one lap down, getting the free pass and back on the lead lap. After two more pit stops for fresh tires, Patrick moved up to 18th.

Danica Patrick sits in her car during practice at Dover International Speedway on June 2, 2017. Patrick would go on to finish 10th in the AAA 400, for her first top-10 in more than two years.
Matthew O'Haren, USA TODAY Sports

Danica Patrick received primary sponsorship from Nature's Bakery in the 2016 season, but Stewart-Haas Racing sued the snack food company for more than $31 million in early 2017, claiming that Nature's Bakery has reneged on payments.
Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports

Danica Patrick climbs out of her burning race car after a crash with Matt Kenseth at Talladega Superspeedway on May 1, 2016. Patrick called it the worst crash of her career.
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Danica Patrick waves to her fans after making NASCAR history by becoming the first woman to win a Sprint Cup pole. Patrick qualified first for the 2013 Daytona 500 on Feb. 17.
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Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sept 30, 2012.
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Danica Patrick waves to fans during driver introductions prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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Danica Patrick greets fans on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct 12, 2012 in Charlotte, N.C.
By Tyler Barrick, Getty Images for NASCAR